Predictors of stress and depressive mood in portuguese middle-aged women

This cross-sectional study investigates the predictors of psychological symptoms-stress and depressive mood-in a sample of middle-aged women. A community sample of 1,003 women filled in the questionnaires and instruments, which included the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales and the Life Events Survey; sociodemographic, health, and menopause-related and lifestyle information was also collected. Structural equation modeling was used to build the model that had stress and depressive mood as dependent variables. Health status (both physical and psychological), recent life events, income and menopausal phase were significantly associated with the frequency of stress and depressive symptoms. Additionally, educational level and parity were also significant predictors of depressive mood. This study emphasizes that psychological symptoms occurrence in midlife depends not only on personal variables (such as health and menopausal status) but also on contextual ones (including recent stressful events) that can be a strong influence on how middle-aged women feel.

Influência do género, da institucionalização e da força da fé sobre a ansiedade face à morte em adultos idosos

Dissertação de Mestrado apresentada ao Instituto Superior de Psicologia Aplicada para obtenção de grau de Mestre na especialidade de Psicologia Clínica.

A Perceção das Práticas de Gestão de Recursos Humanos e o impacto no Desempenho dos Colaboradores

Investigações desenvolvidas têm tido como foco principal o estudo da relação positiva entre as PGRH e o desempenho das organizações. Menos ênfase tem sido dado à perceção dos colaboradores sobre a importância dessas mesmas práticas no seu desenvolvimento profissional e na progressão da respetiva carreira. Entendendo ser de interesse, pretende-se confirmar a tese de que uma boa perceção das PGRH será efetivamente um preditor da performance Organizacional/Pessoal, o que vem na linha de investigações realizadas nos últimos anos, que têm sido voltadas para a avaliação do impacto da estratégia e das PGRH sobre o desempenho dos colaboradores. Assim, o objetivo principal da investigação prende-se com a análise da relação existente entre a perceção das PGRH e o desempenho dos colaboradores, procurando perceber se existem PGRH que deverão ser recomendadas como o propósito de se alcançarem níveis mais elevados de desempenho por parte dos referidos colaboradores. A amostra do estudo compreende um total de 121 participantes, que correspondem a trabalhadores com Sede Profissional em Portugal. Os dados foram recolhidos através de um questionário on-line e tratados e analisados através do Programa SPSS Dos resultados obtidos, foi possível observar que os colaboradores percecionam as PGRH como um todo, que há associação entre as PGRH e o desempenho dos mesmos colaboradores, porém com a particularidade de não se ter registado a associação entre a Prática “remuneração” e o “desempenho”.

The relation between attachment, personality, internalizing, and externalizing dimensions in adolescents with borderline personality disorder

The relation between attachment and personality features is an important field to explore in adolescent borderline personality disorder (BPD), and previous research has shown that personality features may be conceptualized within latent internalizing and externalizing dimensions. This cross-sectional study used a structural equation model to examine the association between the BPD participants' perception of attachment and personality features, mediated by the underlying internalizing/externalizing personality dimensions. Data were analyzed for 60 adolescents, ages 15 to 18 years, diagnosed with BPD who completed attachment and personality self-report measures. The authors' results showed a good fit of the model, suggesting a significant association between attachment and the internalizing/externalizing dimensions, which simultaneously congregate and influence personality traits. The perception of attachment anxiety was positively related to the internalizing dimension and at the same time negatively related to the externalizing dimension. However, the perception of attachment avoidance was not related to internalizing or externalizing personality dimensions.

A ansiedade infantil : vulnerabilidades da criança e influência dos pais

Tese de Doutoramento em Psicologia na área de especialidade Psicologia Clínica

STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF TEACHER INSTRUMENTAL SUPPORT AS A PREDICTOR OF MOTIVATION IN READING AND MATH AND ACHIEVEMENT FROM SECOND THROUGH TWELFTH GRADE

In this study, relations among students’ perceptions of instrumental help/support from their teachers and their reading and math ability beliefs, subjective task values, and academic grades, were explored from elementary through high school. These relations were examined in an overall sample of 1,062 students from the Childhood and Beyond (CAB) study dataset, a cohort-sequential study that followed students from elementary to high school and beyond. Multi-group structural equation model (SEM) analyses were used to explore these relations in adjacent grade pairs (e.g., second grade to third grade) in elementary school and from middle school through high school separately for males and females. In addition, multi-group latent growth curve (LGC) analyses were used to explore the associations among change in the variables of interest from middle school through high school separately for males and females. The results showed that students’ perceptions of instrumental help from teachers significantly positively predicted: (a) students’ math ability beliefs and reading and math task values in elementary school within the same grade for both girls and boys, and (b) students’ reading and math ability beliefs, reading and math task values, and GPA in middle and high school within the same grade for both girls and boys. Overall, students’ perceptions of instrumental help from teachers more consistently predicted ability beliefs and task values in the academic domain of math than in the academic domain of reading. Although there were some statistically significant differences in the models for girls and boys, the direction and strength of the relations in the models were generally similar for both girls and boys. The implications for these findings and suggestions for future research are discussed.

School engagement and burnout in a sample of brazilian students

Objective: Some studies have suggested that school engagement can be an ally in the prevention of psychosocial and occupational risks, to which students are exposed daily. The aim of this study is to estimate the impact of emotional, behavioral, and cognitive engagement on burnout syndrome among pharmacy undergraduate students. Methods: A total of 363 students enrolled in the pharmacy undergraduate program in the College of Pharmaceutical Sciences at Sao Paulo State University’s Araraquara Campus (UNESP) participated, 78.0% of whom were female. Mean age was 20.3 (SD = 2.7) years. The Maslach Burnout Inventory for students (MBI-SS) and the University Students School Engagement Inventory (USEI) were used. Confirmatory factor analysis was performed to assess the psychometric properties of the instruments. The data were included in a structural equation model in which burnout was considered the central construct. The impact of school engagement on burnout was based on the statistical significance of causal paths (β) evaluated by z tests (α = 5%). Results: The psychometric properties of the MBI-SS and USEI were adequate and the structural model also presented an adequate fit. Behavioral engagement (β = −0.56) and the emotional engagement (β = −0.71) explained 81.0% of burnout variability in the sample. Cognitive engagement was not found to contribute significantly. This data provides evidence of the impact of school engagement on burnout that can be used by educators and policymakers in charge of educational process. Conclusion: School engagement presented inverse and significant influence on burnout syndrome among pharmacy students.

COLLEGE STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD SEEKING PROFESSIONAL HELP: THE ROLE OF SOCIAL CLASS, CLASSISM, AND STIGMA

Research on attitudes toward seeking professional help among college students has examined the influence of social class and stigma. This study tested 4 theoretically and empirically derived structural equation models of college students’ attitudes toward seeking counseling with a sample of 2230 incoming university students. The models represented competing hypotheses regarding the manners in which objective social class, subjective social class, classism, public stigma, stigma by close others, and self-stigma related to attitudes toward seeking professional help. Findings supported the social class direct and indirect effects model, as well as the notion that classism and stigma domains could explain the indirect relationships between social class and attitudes. Study limitations, future directions for research, and implications for counseling are discussed.

Modelo de Medición de la Gestión Estratégica Mediante el Empleo de una Estructura de Cuadro de Mando Integral Dirigido a las Empresas Pertenecientes al Sector Manufacturero de Artículos de Talabartería y Guarnicionería en Venezuela

En éste artículo se analiza las características y dimensiones de los indicadores de las Estrategias Genéricas (Porter, 1980) y de los Cuadro de Mando Integral (Kaplan y Norton, 1992), para posteriormente integrarlas y conjugarlas con el propósito de conformar un “Modelo de Medición de la Gestión Estrategia mediante una Estructura del Cuadro de Mando Integral para el Sector Manufacturero de Talabartería y Guarnicionería de Venezuela” (CMI-EGP). Los datos fueron recolectados con dos cuestionarios basados en dimensiones de éstas dos teorías, relacionadas con la alineación entre el recurso humano y la gestión organizacional. Es decir, donde cada dependencia busca alinear los enfoques estratégicos propios de la organización, para así convertirse en un factor de éxito. La metodología empírica empleada esta basada en la técnica de reducción de datos o análisis factorial y por un análisis confirmatorio mediante la técnica Structural Equation Models (SEM), que es una herramienta integral de modelización multiecuacional que fusiona la econometría con los principios de medición de la psicología y la sociología. Esta técnica estadística de análisis multivariante tiene como objetivos primordiales, el aumentar la capacidad explicativa del investigador y la eficacia estadística. La investigación proporciona una modelización confirmatoria que correlaciona las variables latentes y manifiestas, que determinan el grado de relación y alineación entre las cuatro perspectivas de cuadro de mando integral (procesos internos, financieros, del cliente y aprendizaje y crecimiento) y las estrategias genéricas de Porter. Para el procesamiento se emplea el software LISREL versión más reciente 8.8 del año 2009, que es un programa usado en el análisis de ecuaciones estructurales, que fue desarrollado en los años setenta por Karl Jöreskog y Dag Sörbom, ambos profesores de la Universidad de Upsala, Suecia.

Determinants of engagement in virtual social networks in Singapore

The use of virtual social networks (VSNs) has been prevalent among consumers worldwide. Numerous studies have investigated various aspects of VSNs. However, these studies have mainly focused on students and young adults as they were early adopters of these innovative networks. A search of the literature revealed there has been a paucity of research on adult consumers’ use of VSNs. This research study addressed this gap in the literature by examining the determinants of engagement in VSNs among adult consumers in Singapore. The objectives of this study are to empirically investigate the determinants of engagement in VSNs and to offer theoretical insights into consumers’ preference and usage of VSNs. This study tapped upon several theories developed in the discipline of technology and innovation adoption. These were Roger’s Diffusion of Innovation, Theory of Reasoned Action (TRA), Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), Technology Acceptance Model (TAM), Conceptual Framework of Individual Innovation Adoption by Frambach and Schillewaert (2002), Enhanced Model of Innovation Adoption by Talukder (2011), Extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT2) and the Information Systems (IS) Success Model. The proposed research model, named the Media Usage Model (MUM), is a framework rooted in innovation diffusion and IS theories. The MUM distilled the essence of these established models and thus provides an updated, lucid explanation of engagement in VSNs. A cross-sectional, online social survey was conducted to collect quantitative data to examine the validity of the proposed research model. Multivariate data analysis was carried out on a data set comprising 806 usable responses by utilizing SPSS, and for structural equation modeling AMOS and SmartPLS. The results indicate that consumer attitude towards VSNs is significantly and positively influenced by: three individual factors – hedonic motivation, incentives and experience; two system characteristics – system quality and information quality; and one social factor – social bonding. Consumer demographics were found to influence people’s attitudes towards VSNs. In addition, consumer experience and attitude towards VSNs significantly and positively influence their usage of VSNs. The empirical data supported the proposed research model, explaining 80% of variance in attitude towards VSNs and 45% of variance in usage of VSNs. Therefore, the MUM achieves a definite contribution to theoretical knowledge of consumer engagement in VSNs by deepening and broadening our appreciation of the intricacies related to use of VSNs in Singapore. This study’s findings have implications for customer service management, services marketing and consumer behavior. These findings also have strategic implications for maximizing efficient utilization and effective management of VSNs by businesses and operators. The contributions of this research are: firstly, shifting the boundaries of technology or innovation adoption theories from research on employees to consumers as well as the boundaries of Internet usage or adoption research from students to adults, which is also known as empirical generalization; secondly, highlighting the issues associated with lack of significance of social factors in adoption research; and thirdly, augmenting information systems research by integrating important antecedents for success in information systems.

Compromisso, motivação e identidade atlética como variáveis preditivas do consumo de desporto

O objetivo deste estudo foi examinar a relação entre a motivação, o compromisso desportivo e a identidade atlética e três tipos de comportamentos de consumo de desporto: frequência de participação, consumo de artigos de desporto e consumo de media. Foi aplicado um questionário a praticantes de desportos individuais e coletivos, de fitness e de prática informal (n = 900). O questionário incluíu questões relacionadas com informações sociodemográficas, com a motivação, o compromisso desportivo, a identidade atlética e com o comportamento de consumo de desporto. Para analisar os dados utilizámos modelos de equações estruturais, testes de comparação (ANOVA). Os resultados mais relevantes foram os obtidos a partir de um modelo de equações estruturais onde foram fornecidas evidências de que o compromisso desportivo tem uma influência positiva sobre a frequência de participação, sobre o consumo de artigos de desporto e dos media. Também a motivação e a identidade atlética tem uma influência sobre os diferentes tipos de consumo de desporto, estudados nesta investigação. As implicações destes resultados são discutidas e sugestões para futuras pesquisas sobre praticantes de desporto são fornecidas.

UBS RN-7: proposta arquitetônica para um padrão flexível de unidade básica de saúde para a zona bioclimática 7 do RN, com ênfase na sustentabilidade ambiental

Standardization and sustainability: these two apparently antagonistic words find the challenge of uniting in a flexible architectonic proposal. This was the idea that motivated the proposal of this assignment, whose appearing is bound up with the necessity of thinking about standardized spaces that attend on functional criterias and environmental sustainability, in reply to an existing real demand. The assignment consists of an architectonic proposal for a flexible standard of a Basic Unit of Health for the bioclimatic zone 7 of RN (UBS RN-7), with emphasis in the environmental sustainability. The project contemplates innumerable involved variables, such as: obedience to the current law of the Health Ministry for the UBSs; formal/aesthetic aspects; criterias of expansiveness of the UBS I for the UBS II; relative aspects to the constructive rationality and, mainly, sustainability aspects. With the intention to unite the variables and, also, glimpsing a proposal that could reach a good functional performance, aesthetic, of environment comfort and energetic efficiency, it was also necessary to consider concepts about the flexibility of the envelopment. The elaboration of the architecture first draft was based on bibliographical research, conceptual studies and references, elaboration of the architectonic program and the draft development for the UBS port I and the UBS port II. To the end, an implantation data sheet for the project is proposed for the UBS standard project, where strategies of thermal isolation, shadowing and thermal inertia are adopted and combined to three possible types of lot, resulting in 24 possibilities of implantation

A ética e a utilidade da contabilidade

Dissertação de Mestrado, Contabilidade, Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Algarve, 2016

Equity Research - Luz Saúde

Mestrado em Finanças

Co-creation of tourism experience: attention, involvement and memorability

Tese de Doutoramento, Turismo, Faculdade de Economia, Universidade do Algarve, 2016